Over five hundred members of the ULSG organization have called for a renewed fight to restore equity in military retiree retainer pay, based upon our recent mass email to the membership. Additional responses pledging total commitment to a revitalized fight are being received daily from active and retired veterans. This resurgence of support to repeal or drastically modify the Uniformed Services Former Spouses' Protection Act (USFSPA) (PL 97-252) (10 USC 1408), is resultant of the recent rebuff by the US Supreme Court who refused, on 18 June 2007, to review the federal lawsuit earlier filed by 58 veterans jointly with the ULSG. The lawsuit was filed on April 30, 2004, in the District Court of Eastern Virginia.

As a result of the above response to the Court’s decision, former LLC members assisted by a team of veterans active in the continuing fight have been discussing and formulating plans for a reorganized and revamped effort. They conclude that a revitalized ULSG organization be formed focusing on a “three-pronged attack” to accomplish the objective of USFSPA repeal. The plan is to attack Judicially, Legislatively and at all levels of the Media (Public Relations). An important goal of the organization is to educate the public and demand the military services brief all active duty members about the USFSPA. The planning group agrees that reorganization of the ULSG is necessary while it is important to retain the protection and flexibility through incorporation as a Limited Liability Company (LLC).

The following is underway:

•  The organization is being legally and financially relocated to Texas as the new home of record. Texas law allows the formation of a non-profit Limited Liability Company.

• Managing members have volunteered to lead in the following arenas:

• Judicial Liaison

• Legislative Liaison

• Public Relations

• Membership

• We are asking all ULSG members to volunteer and assist in the above in an area of their choice. Click here to send the ULSG Leadership an email - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

• Retaining David Bederman as the organization’s Legal Counsel for constitutional matters.

• Preparing an organizational budget to identify legal expenses and costs for an aggressive advertising and lobbying campaign.

• Continuing to inform members via the ULSG email distribution system. With due notice this will be provided only to contributing members.

• By contributing, we know that you are committed to making changes and working toward that end.  There are basic expenses of website maintenance, email distribution system and bank charges to be met and funds come from donations alone. 

The following are actions the leadership intends to pursue:

Aggressively encourage and assist in the filing of selected (well documented) individual veterans’ lawsuits in those states where cases of disparate and egregious treatment by state courts have occurred in previous divorce cases; spotlight and exploit those cases by pointing up inconsistencies in treatment and decisions.

Consciously bombard the federal and state legislatures to embarrass their members with their historic examples of posturing, inaction and (so far demonstrated) incompetence in addressing specific issues critical to the effectiveness of the military services and the military veteran.

Conduct a sweeping and well-orchestrated media (public relations) blitz, pointing out to military members, active and retired, and the civilian population as well, the overall community’s traditional failure to recognize and comprehend the importance of fair and equitable treatment for armed forces personnel.

Publicize the ULSG mission and our new organization as a strong, viable and dynamic force through direct media communication, press releases, articles and interviews.

Develop and maintain a library (archive/history) of documents and information available to members that will include individual case histories and legal document references. Construct file of divorce cases that includes case numbers, full names of parties involved, dates and rulings by State Judges that can be used to publicize and personify divorce case decisions and injustices. These files will be available for review, but restricted as to use. They will require ULSG approval for dissemination.